Andrew Knizner may be the backup catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals behind Willson Contreras, but that didn’t stop him from making some unique history on Monday night.
The young catcher was used in the bottom of the eighth inning as a pinch runner for Paul Goldschmidt.
However, the Cardinals scored 10 runs in the inning, and Knizner ultimately came to the plate with the Cards leading, 14-1.
The catcher hit a grand slam and put the game even further out of reach.
After the game, Knizner talked about his grand slam and gave Cardinals legend Albert Pujols a shoutout.
Andrew Knizner on hitting a grand slam off a position player: “They all count the same. … I went with the Albert Pujols approach, which is get on top of the plate, front of the box and try to hit it as hard as you can and far as you can to left field.” #STLCards pic.twitter.com/F5cuMEF9UY
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 16, 2023
When Knizner was asked about his grand slam, he said that they count all the same, regardless of if they’re off of actual pitchers or position players.
Knizner then credited Pujols, talking about the things he learned from the three-time National League MVP last season and how they helped him with his approach in his eighth-inning at-bat.
The young catcher described Pujols’ approach, revealing that the way to go about it is to get on top of the plate and in front of the batter’s box and trying to hit it as high and as far as possible to left field.
The grand slam was ultimately a no-doubter, but Knizner didn’t want to take all the credit for it, and was kind enough to give the retired Pujols a postgame shoutout.
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